Tone-guide for singers



M. A. L. CLARK.

TONE GUIDE FOR SINGERS. APPLICATION FILED AUG.2, 1920.

1,389,240 s Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

MARY AUGUSTA LEE CLARK, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

TONE-GUIDE FOR SINGERS.

Specificationof Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

Application filed August 2, 1920. Serial No. 400,888.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MARY AUGUSTA LEE CLARK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tone-Guides for Singers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

he purpose of this invention is to insure the correct positions of the mouth in singing the important vowel sounds, and to aid in the development of the voice not alone in the separation of the jaws, but in the control of the tongue and lips.

In the accomplishment of these purposes I provide a device formed with a plurality of different dimensions so disposed that, when respectively gripped between the teeth, the mouth is properly positioned for the singing of the vowel sounds indicated. In addition, the device is constructed for giving the pitch of certain notes of the scale, whereby, without the aid of any other mu sical instrument, the pupil can properly pitch his voice for his vocal practice.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure l is a view of the device illustrating its employment in the singing of vowel sounds requiring the widest separation of the teeth. Fig. 2 illustrates its use for less widely separated positions. Fig. 3 illustrates it when used for the minimum separation of the teeth. Fig. 4 shows it while being used for giving the pitch of certain notes.

The main body of the tone guide consists of a skeletonized head 1, circular in end View as shown in Fig. 2, but contracted in its waist dimension rather than fully cylindrical, and having a circular hole 2 extended from end to end. Diametrically through this head and reaching nearly to each end is a slot 3, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

Attached to the midlength of the head and at substantially right angles to the general direction of the slot 3, is a stem 4 sufliciently long to reach beyond the sides of a users mouth, as indicated in Fig. 3. This stem may be either tubular or solid, but is preferably tubular in order to render the device somewhat lighter.

At the end of the stem 4.- opposite the head 1 is attached at right angles thereto a pitch-pipe 5, blowing in one end of which sounds a note preferably pitched to middle C of a piano, and in the other to the note A above.

In using this device, the singer opens his mouth sufliciently to introduce the head 1 between his teeth, the ends being in contact with the teeth for the tones embracing the vowel sound Ah, or short A as it is often termed. This having been practised upon various keys accurately pitched by the pitch pipe 5, the head 1 can be changed to present its diameter between the teeth and to thereby adapt the mouth for the proper vocalization of sounds bearing the vowel 0 both long and short.

For the E-sounds, the stem 4: is clasped between the teeth as shown in Fig. 3, thereby completing the guidance of the mouth in all the essential vowel sounds.

The head 1 is skeletonized by means of the axial hole and diametrical slot abOVe referred to, in order that the same shall interfere as little as possible with the users breathing, and also with the emission of sound.

vWhat I claim is:

l. A tone guide for singers comprising a head having one dimension adapted for the maximum separation of the teeth of a singer, and another dimension adapted for the medium separation of the teeth, and a stem projecting therefrom having a diameter adapted for the minimum separation of the teeth, said maximum separation being best adapted for singing the vowel A, the medium separation being adapted for the vowel O, and the minimum separation being adapted for the vowel E.

2. A tone guide comprising an approximately cylindrical head whose length and diameter are respectively adapted for the maximum and medium separation of the teeth of a singing pupil, and an elongated stem projecting radially from said head and having a diameter adapted for a minimum separation of the teeth, said degrees of separation being best adapted for singing the vowels A, O and E, respectively.

A tone guide comprising an approximately cylindrical head Whose length and diameter are respectively adapted for the maximum and medium separation of the teeth of a singing pupil, and an elongated stem projecting therefrom, said head being apertured both axially and diametrically, said degrees of separation being best adapted for singing' the vowels A, U and E, respectively.

Mn. MARY AUGUSTA LEE CLARK. 

